Opinion

In John 1: 4, John writes to a friend in church and says: I could have no greater joy than to hear that our people and children are following the truth.
Our own people are not looking or following the truth today.
Letter writer Sheila Bickford claims civil rights as a Democrat supported policy.
The DNC website in its “Our Party Our History” section also starts out with a lie by saying, “For more than 200 years our party has led the fight for civil rights...”

When Wayne Kersey greets students and athletes, who knew his late son, Indian Land High School wrestling coach and Indian Land Elementary teacher Mike Kersey, he says he can see his son’s spirit.
Coach Kersey, who died last fall as a result of an ATV accident at his home, continues to have a lasting impact on his students and athletes.
Often Kersey’s familiar words – “Don’t pace yourself, push yourself,” were an inspiration to those he guided in class or the arena.

Dads, credit Sonora Smart Dodd for that tie you always wanted, hand-drawn, crayon-colored greeting card and all the attention lavished on you today. Why? Because Dodd was an equal opportunist daughter.
While listening to a Mother’s Day sermon in 1909 at Central Methodist Episcopal Church in Spokane, Wash., Dodd got to thinking that fathers deserved special recognition, too.

Kershaw Town Council has a major task ahead.
The council is in the process of finding a new town administrator with the resignation of Kershaw Town Administrator Tony Starnes.
Starnes, after careful consideration, said he made his decision to resign a few weeks ago.
Starnes’ announcement was stunning to Kershaw Mayor Wayne Rhodes, who was assured by Starnes he was just ready to “move on.”
Starnes, 62, said he might want to do something else or just spend quality time with his family.

Easter is about hope – hope for ourselves, each other and the future. Today, Christians worldwide will celebrate that hope.
The parallel between Easter and hope is obvious. For followers of Jesus Christ, it was a hopeless period when their tortured leader drew his last breath on a crude cross and his body placed in a tomb. Some hid in fear as they mourned his death. There was doubt – even among the disciples who were with him everyday. Was Jesus’ message real? What’s next?

John Smith never sets his sights on winning region titles or state championships. Rather, he simply aims for his team to get better. Somehow, though, his Great Falls Red Devils continue to win plenty of both.
On March 3, Great Falls defeated Johnsonville for the Class A state title. Smith won another state title that he didn’t plan for or expect, even though he returned five of his top seven players from last year’s state title team, including the Class A Player of the Year.

Mike Kersey is gone, but certainly not forgotten.
The emotional wrestling coach and elementary school physical education teacher had that type of impact on students, no matter their age.
He knew how to motivate the heavyweight wrestler to reach his potential on the mat, and at the same time had the knack for making exercise fun for the most reluctant elementary school student.
Kersey, who died last fall, was that type person. Across the county and state, in wrestling circles, Kersey is regarded as an icon.

A pair of bills being debated in the S.C. House illustrate the ongoing tension between those who would open government up for all to see and those who seek to close its doors to pesky outsiders.
The first would outrageously clamp the door firmly shut on a wide swath of law enforcement records. The second would helpfully ease the path for citizens who seek to learn more about their government.

We are Lancaster! pride was prevalent at the annual Lancaster County Chamber of Commerce’s recent annual meeting.
The evening was a festive occasion, with the highlight, a source of pride in our community, the annual awards.
A host of honorees reflect the “we care” attitude in Lancaster County.
The Chamber’s coveted Volunteer of the Year Award was presented to Tommy Cauthen, of Cauthen Motors.
Cauthen is a fixture at community events often working behind the scenes, but his tireless effort is to make the event a success.

With the recent passing of longtime Lancaster County public servant Fred Plyler, former Lancaster County school superintendent John Wall said he lost a “good friend.”
The same could be said of Lancaster County, which was a better place because Plyler did plenty of good work here.
He set a high standard as a magistrate, county road commissioner, an original Lancaster County Council member, a former president and board member of the Lancaster County Farm Bureau and a founding member of the Buford Volunteer Fire Department.

The 2011 South Carolina Athletic Programs state soccer tournament at Sumter’s Patriot Park presented quite a challenge for two Lancaster County Recreation Commission youth soccer teams earlier this month.
The Lancaster County 10-under all-stars and the 12-under all-stars ventured to Sumter to defend their state titles.
The teams were each coming off successful Central District title defenses in defeating Fort Mill to earn a repeat trip to the elite state field.
What the Lancaster County teams accomplished was downright impressive.

Even at the age of 92, the homeowner was aware the men on the other side of her front door were would-be scammers. When they asked her to walk outside and help them hold a tape measure, she refused, then closed and locked the door.
Minutes later they gained access to her house by breaking in through her back door. She pressed her life alert button and told the men help was on the way. They left before the deputies arrived at her house.

The Lancaster High School Bruins’ soccer teams are getting it done – on the field and in the classroom.
Recent news about the LHS teams’ (girls and boys) academic success bears out the claim.
The Lady Bruins posted an overall 4.3 GPA (grade-point average) for the 2010-11 school term, while the LHS boys finished with an overall 3.4 GPA.
Obviously, the Bruins’ soccer squads are using their noggins for more than headers.
The success of the teams has been duly noted.

The Lancaster County foster care unit has quite a tradition going. For the third consecutive year an employee of the county foster care unit has taken the state’s top honor as Caseworker of the Year.
The latest honoree is Chaundra Fletcher, who was honored at the Independent Living Conference by the S.C. DSS and the University of South Carolina.
A year ago, Kenya Papillion received the honor, while Tracy Rabon won the award in 2009.
Fletcher, who has a caseload of 19 children, is regarded as an exceptional worker.

If you’re a high school football fanatic, then make plans to be at Andrew Jackson High School’s Volunteer Stadium tonight.
The annual Founders Federal Kickoff Classic, a prep football jamboree, will feature wall-to-wall football.
The scrimmage is the only time during the high school season that a fan can see all four county football teams in action at one site.
That’s special, but only a part of the gridiron play.

Life is about choices. We don’t choose nor can control what happens to us. We can choose how we respond.
Many people face serious challenges – challenges that run the gamut – from personal, to financial, to medical. Response to these challenges determines how we handle the situations.
For some, the challenges are too overwhelming.
Yet some turn the challenges into opportunities. Judy Chandler was one of those people.

One of Lancaster County’s finest is now one of the state’s best.
Lt. Eric Brown of the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Department was recently honored as the Deputy of the Year by the Sheriff’s Association.
Earlier this year, Brown, 33, was nominated during a management staff meeting at the office.

The city of Lancaster plans to roll out (literally) its voluntary recycling program in September.
While the city is starting off slow with its program, it is to be commended for initiating the effort to recycle plastic, bottles and jugs, metal and aluminum cans, as well as magazines and certain other papers.
Marty Cauthen, the city’s solid waste director, said several residents had requested the city introduce a recycling program. After discussion and planning, officials devised a system that is not too costly to the city and residents.